NGO on mission to make Bicholim most eco-friendly constituency

BICHOLIM: ‘Thinkers’, an NGO, has undertaken the task of making Bicholim the most eco-friendly constituency in the country.

Towards this end, the NGO has started to sensitise everyone, especially, school and college students.

Based in Bicholim, the group has tied up with schools and colleges in the taluka to spreading the message of keeping the environment clean. The NGO has 18 members and their first project began in Bicholim schools, on Aug 15.

“We have named our first project as ‘Prabhav’ (impact) wherein we will display series of pictures related to environment after every four days and also explain to the students how we can save the earth,” Shorya Bisaria, one of the members, told Herald.

Besides this, the group has decided to rope in teachers and make them aware about various issues related to the environment. “Some schools want us to give just one lecture to students on environment, but the issue is such that constant awareness is necessary. So, we would continue with the follow-up for years to come going to schools after every four days,” Bisaria said.

‘Thinkers’ is also planning to extend to Panjim and other parts of North Goa. “We have contacts with teachers and philanthropists who are willing to donate for the general cause,” Bisaria said.

Talking about a State-level project, Bisari said that in the years to come they would urge the government to ban aggarbatti in Goa.

“The outer cover of aggarbatti is made of paper but its inside coating is of plastic and it causes a lot of pollution. At present we are trying to bring about awareness and once we garner support of the youth we would carry out State level projects,” he said.

“The floods are caused today not because of nature, but it is man-made disaster. Nature should be approached in a different way where development is also not affected and environment is also saved,” he opined.